Storm at Sea

Unlike the waterfalls, the sea pieces (24 works) occupy a minor place in Ruisdael’s œuvre. Added to these are ten works showing beaches and coasts. His interest lay in seas whipped up by storms under a dark, overcast sky, with the crews of sailing-ships battling against the forces of nature. As in "Storm at Sea", only isolated breaks in the clouds show a small patch of blue sky from which a ray of sunshine lights up the foaming waves, providing a welcome contrast with the dark areas.
This painting, until 1930 attributed to Jan Porcellis, is considered an early work of Ruisdael’s, following the older master’s style, but with more attention to the chiaroscuro effect.

Ducke Astrid: Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael, Storm at Sea, in: Ducke Astrid, Habersatter Thomas (Hrsg./Edi.): von | from 0 auf | to 100. Residenzgalerie Salzburg 1923-2023. Salzburg 2023, S./p. 204-205